Take Back Family Time: How to Balance Screen Use and Build Deeper Connections at Home
Let’s be honest: we’ve all done the “just 5 more minutes” dance. You tell yourself you’re checking something “important,” but suddenly 45 minutes are gone. The same thing happens with your kids—heads down, staring at screens, while you’re in the same room but a million miles apart.
Sound familiar?
Smartphones are stealing your most important moments—the ones where trust is built, laughter is shared, and real connection happens. The good news? You don’t have to let screens win.
Joey Odom, co-founder of Aro, laid out a simple plan for reclaiming attention, strengthening relationships, and breaking free from screen overwhelm. And it turns out, some of these strategies align beautifully with the Montessori principles of presence, purpose, and intentional living.
Here’s how you can apply Joey’s ideas to reclaim your family moments and build the kind of connection you want most.
The Problem: Screens Are Stealing Our Attention and Connection
Technology is a tool—but left unchecked, it becomes a thief.
Dinner tables become silent.
Conversations get cut short.
Kids see distracted parents and mirror their behavior.
Sound familiar? Joey explains that this isn’t just about screen time—it’s about the moments we lose. Moments matter.
Montessori philosophy tells us that children thrive in environments of mindfulness and intentionality—spaces where connection happens naturally, without unnecessary distractions. Smartphones disrupt this, replacing engagement with constant noise.
The Plan: 5 Strategies to Reclaim Your Family Time
1. Establish “No-Phone Zones” to Create Sacred Spaces
Joey says certain spaces should be phone-free. Start with the dinner table. When you make a space sacred, it creates room for real connection.
This mirrors the Montessori principle of purposeful environments. In a Montessori classroom, each space has a clear function—no clutter, no distractions—so children can engage fully. Your home can function the same way.
Action Step: Pick one space where phones don’t belong (start with meals). Make it a consistent rule.
2. Replace Passive Consumption With Active, Purposeful Engagement
Scrolling aimlessly is easy. But Joey challenges us to turn technology into a tool for active engagement—a way to connect instead of isolate.
For families, this might mean:
Playing an educational app together.
Watching a short video, then having a conversation about it.
Taking a lesson learned on a screen into the real world.
This aligns with Montessori’s focus on hands-on learning—encouraging children to actively explore their world rather than consume passively. When you use screens intentionally, you teach kids to interact with their environment instead of retreating from it.
Action Step: Turn one screen-based activity into a shared, purposeful experience this week.
3. Model Healthy Tech Habits: Be the Example
Joey emphasizes that parents set the tone. Kids learn what’s “normal” by watching you. If they see you prioritize screens over connection, they’ll do the same.
This echoes a Montessori principle: children learn by observing adults. You are their guide. If you want them to value relationships over distractions, show them what that looks like.
Action Step: Put your phone away for two hours during family time and see the difference it makes.
4. Create Tech-Free Rituals That Strengthen Connection
Rituals build trust and shared experiences. Joey recommends creating screen-free routines that your family can rely on, like:
Weekly family game nights.
Tech-free walks.
Reading stories together before bed.
Routines provide a sense of stability and belonging. Montessori education prioritizes this, using consistent rhythms to foster security and focus. When you build rituals into your family’s life, you’re teaching your kids that connection matters—and that small, consistent actions have a big impact.
Action Step: Schedule one tech-free family ritual this week. Keep it simple but consistent.
5. Talk to Your Kids About Technology
Instead of making screen rules a battle, Joey suggests having open, honest conversations. Ask your kids:
How do screens make you feel?
What are your favorite ways to use technology?
What might we gain by putting our phones away more often?
Montessori values collaboration and independence. Involving your kids in setting healthy tech boundaries teaches them to take ownership of their habits and builds trust.
Action Step: Sit down as a family this week and ask your kids for their input on creating healthier screen habits.
The Outcome: Moments That Matter
When you follow this plan, you’ll create:
✅ Sacred spaces for connection.
✅ Meaningful shared experiences.
✅ A family culture that prioritizes presence over distraction.
As Joey Odom reminds us, the goal isn’t to hate technology—it’s to love your family more. Small, intentional changes can bring back the moments screens have stolen and create a home where connection thrives.
Watch Joey’s Full Talk for More Insights
Joey Odom dives deeper into reclaiming your family’s time and attention in his talk. He shares powerful stories and practical tips that can help you take the first step toward a connected home.
Explore the Resources Mentioned in Joey’s Talk:
Aro App (Discount Code: VMS): A tool that helps families stay accountable by creating intentional phone-free time.
Hang Ten Movement: Simple, family-friendly ideas for tech-free activities that build connection.
Wait Until 8th: A community-driven pledge to delay giving kids smartphones until 8th grade.
The Bark App: Monitor and manage kids’ screen use while keeping them safe online.
Screen Sanity: Practical tips and tools to create healthier tech habits as a family.
Microsoft Family, Apple Screen Time, and Google Home: Built-in tools to set screen limits, monitor usage, and encourage balanced tech habits.
Your Next Step: Start Small and Stay Consistent
What’s one tech habit you can change this week? Write it down. Commit to it.
Your family deserves your full attention. The moments you create today will be the memories you cherish tomorrow.
Take back your time. Take back your connection. Take back your family.